This is still a work in progress. I still have to finish the structure itself along with signs and the many details that still need to be added and weathering of the building. I also have the overhead crane to build yet for the inside of the structure.
This is where I am at right now and a little of how I got to this point.
I started out with the Walthers Railroad Shop kit.
I built that structure pretty much following the plans that came with it. Before I built the building I painted all of the brickwork the color I wanted. When that was dry I then added the mortar. To do this I picked the color I wanted in just cheap craft acrylic paint that you can buy at Walmart. Once I had the color I wanted I used like a 1/2" wide brush and paint it heavy all over that brick section. As soon as that piece is painted I take a paper towel and wipe it all back off leaving the mortar lines in the brick. I then painted all of the window sashes and installed all of them. All of the glass that comes with the kit has raised window panels. So I took a permanent black marker and ran it along all of those raised sections. After all of that was done those were installed also and then put the building together. I use Testors plastic cement in the bottle with the pink label to install the glass. If I do get any on the glass it doesn't seem to effect it and dries clear.
I weathered the inside of the building after it was put together. I just used AIM weathering powders for this.
I also put lights inside. I wanted to be able to remove the roof when I wanted to in the future. So I wanted to install the lights as not to interfere with this. I came up with the idea of just using 14 guage wire with the insulation stripped off. I then ran the wires across the building and super glued them on each side. I ran 2 other wires across the length of the building along the wall and soldered them to the cross wires and down the back corner of the building through a hole I drilled in the floor. These wires were then ran through a hole drilled in the benchwork to hook the lights up. For the lights I took a washer that would fit on top of the bulb and super glued that on to make a shade for the lights. I then hook these lights up to the copper wires running across the building. When done I painted the light shades green and all of the copper wires black to help hide them. Even with the lights on in the building you don't notice the wires.
For the concrete pad in front of of the enginehouse I just used regular sheetrock joint compound. I used the bag with a 45 minute setup to give me a little more time to work it.
I didn't have a picture from how I started the concrete pad. All I do is take some scrap pieces of wood and use them as concrete forms just like you would pouring your driveway.
Here is a picture of another spot on the layout that I did the same thing. When the plaster has setup just simply pull the forms off.
After it was dry to the touch but wasn't setup all of the way I pulled the forms off. I then took a ruler and the backside of a hobby knife to make the lines in the pad. I just drew the hobby knife lightly over the plaster. Then brushed off the extra plaster when I was done.
After a couple of days of letting the plaster dry good I then started weathering it. I first did a light wash of Raw Umber. After that dried I then did a really light wash of India Ink. I did heavier black wash in between the tracks to simulate oils and grease. You'll see this in the pictures further down.
When the washes had dried I then started weathering the concrete with AIM weahering powders. I used numerous colors, blending them to end up with the color I wanted in the end. At first it starts out looking like a mess thinking to yourself that you ruined it and you'll have to start over. No worries though, just keep working it and rubbing them in to the plaster. After a little work it finally turns out.
I decide to add lighted inspection pits to the enginehouse. I built some pits out of Evergreen .040" styrene. Nothing fancy just a rectangle box with a floor.
For the lights I had some battery operated LED lights that you can buy at Walmart. I usually go there after the the Christmas season and pick them up. You can usually find them on sale for like a $1.
I drilled 3 holes in each styrene box just a touch bigger than the bulbs. Just so they would fit snug but didn't have to force them in.
At this point I set the lights aside. I then weathered the styrene boxes a little so they weren't so white. For the most part you're not going to see them a whole lot.
I figured out where they would go on the layout by setting the enginehouse on and tracing the pits onto the plywood. I cut the holes out and then glued the pits in with super glue. I used super glue because it sets fast and I didn't have to sit there holding the boxes all night for the glue to set.
After they were glued in I stuck the lights back into the pits and super glued them in so they wouldn't fall out from vibration over time. For the battery pack I just screwed 2 little conduit hooks to the benchwork under the layout and it just sits in there. When I want the lights on I just reach under the layout and flip the switch on.
At this point I have started working on the roof. I cut up strips of paper and glued them to the roof with white glue. When dry I painted them a grimy black color. When I get all of the vents done and weathered they will be glued on and the whole roof will be sprayed with dullcote to seal it all.
Overall picture of the front.
With the sanding facility installed in front.
When I get around to doing some more work on the enginehouse I will post updates here.
Thank you for looking and I hope this helps in any of your projects.